Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Auburn University, 2005. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographic references (p.63-64).

Thesis (M.S.)--Missouri State University, 2008. / "December 2008." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 23-27). Also available online.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2009. / Title from title page screen (viewed on Oct. 23, 2009). Thesis advisor: Donald G. Hodges. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Current bioinformatic methods such as molecular phylogenetics and phylogenomics provide us with good insight to symbiont evolution. Though modern science evolves rapidly, accelerates speed of acquiring novel discoveries and improves their quality, there is still endless row of questions waiting to be answered. This thesis focuses on origins of symbiosis between insects and Enterobacteria, and the mechanisms promoting association of bacteria with arthropods. The main emphasis is put on the secondary symbionts of the genus Sodalis (Enterobacteriaceae) and the pathogenic Anaplasma phagocytophilum (Anaplasmataceae) that seems to be undergoing first steps to become hereditary mutualist.

Tsetse flies, Glossina species, are the biological vectors of Trypanosoma species which cause animal African trypanosomiases (AAT) in livestock (especially cattle) in sub-Saharan Africa. This disease is often fatal without treatment and negatively impacts on rural, agricultural and economic development. On the Jos Plateau, north central Nigeria, AAT was historically of little significance due to the presumed absence of tsetse and Fulani pastoralists were encouraged to settle there. But over the last 30 years, the disease has become widespread and highly prevalent in the area. This has been attributed to the expansion of tsetse on the plateau, frequent migrations of cattle to areas with higher tsetse densities and the presence of other biting flies which serve as mechanical vectors. In the current study, the presence and abundance of tsetse was determined in selected villages using biconical tsetse trap surveys. The low number of flies trapped suggests that tsetse expansion has been very limited within the plateau but the fact that trypanosome DNA was present in over half of these flies implicates them in AAT transmission. The migration of a herd of cattle was also tracked and during the period, blood samples were collected from the cattle and examined for trypanosomes using molecular techniques. Despite prophylactic treatment and deltamethrin sprays, results showed that a significant proportion of the animals (52%) had become infected with T. vivax over the migration period. Tsetse flies (G. palpalis) were also slightly more abundant in some of parts of the migration area. Potential mechanical vectors (Stomoxys spp. and Tabanidae) were trapped and results obtained from the examination of their mouthparts for trypanosomes indicate their involvement in transmission. However, it is difficult to make any definite conclusions about their overall contribution which is thought to be minimal and more studies are needed to clarify their significance. It is concluded that trypanosomiasis risk from tsetse on the Jos Plateau is currently low and seasonal migration appears to be the main driver of AAT transmission by exposing cattle to more tsetse for longer periods. Other biting flies may play a limited role which remains undetermined. Continued monitoring of cattle and tsetse across the plateau over the next few years is important and the careful use of trypanocides and insecticide treated cattle is recommended as an appropriate control strategy.

Solitary bees are important pollinators of crops, with species in the family Megachilidae (mason bees) being used for orchard pollination. Commercial movement of these bees also moves their microbiota, including bacterial endosymbionts capable of reproductive manipulation. To test for presence of these bacteria, I screened commercially available species of US orchard pollinators and locally captured solitary bees from Kentucky. I also set up mason bee boxes in five apple orchards to examine recruitment of local pollinators. I conducted 454-pyrosequencing to determine bacterial diversity within four species followed by diagnostic PCR of 30 collected species (184 individuals) to determine infection frequency of selected endosymbionts. Consistent with literature, Wolbachia was abundant in these bees. I also found two other endosymbiotic bacteria, Sodalis (previously undetected in Hymenoptera), and Arsenophonus. Diagnostic screening demonstrated that Sodalis was present at moderate frequency in Osmia aglaia, whereas Arsenophonus was present at low frequency in Lasioglossum pilosum. Neither was found in other bees, but three bee species were infected with Sodalis-like endosymbionts. Although recruitment of bees to bee boxes was ineffective, I was able to independently collect native orchard pollinating Andrenidae species. My results demonstrate that other endosymbionts capable of reproductive manipulation, besides Wolbachia, are present in bees.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2010. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xiii, 181 p. : ill. (some col.), maps (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

The use of common species as surrogates for those that are threatened or endangered is best conducted using species that are biologically related. If the two species are fairly dissimilar then conclusions based on data collected from surrogates may be misleading. The abundant little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) has been suggested as a suitable surrogate for the endangered Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) due to their close morphological similarities. In order to examine the suitability of little brown bats as surrogates in ecological based research and management, research was conducted on the roosting ecology, foraging home ranges, foraging habitat selection, and diets of both species. While research is available on Indiana bats in these subjects, there is a paucity of information on little brown bat roosting ecology and foraging ecologies. Therefore, data were collected concerning these ecological factors to determine the similarity between the species. There was enough research on little brown bat and Indiana bat diets available to compile data and compare them without conducing additional research. Roosting ecology and foraging ecology data were collected during the summers of 2003, 2007, and 2009-2011 from 2 study areas in the Shawnee National Forest, IL, and 2 study areas in south-central Indiana. Bats of both species were tracked during the day to record maternity roost characteristics and again at night to record foraging locations. A total of 67 Indiana bats and 31 little brown bats were tracked during our study. Our results show that while the species are similar in some ecological characteristics (roosting habitat, roost tree species) they are also different in several other characteristics (roost type, home range, and habitat selection). Therefore, little brown bats may be suitable surrogates for some research and management projects and unsuitable for others, depending on the objectives of the project. However, holistically little brown bats are unsuitable surrogates for Indiana bat summer habitat management. / Introduction and literature review -- An examination of the characteristics of little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) natural tree roosts within the central portion of the species' range -- Horizontal resource partitioning between sympatric populations of the endangered Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) and the little brown bat (M. lucifugus) -- Suitability of little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) as surrogates for Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) summer research and management. / Department of Biology

Storage mite Acarus siro is one of the most distributed stored product mites in the world. It infests various products (grains, dried fruits, meat products, animal feed etc.) and causes allergic reactions in humans. For these reasons, it is important to find an effective strategy to suppress or even better to eliminate the mite from the storing facilities. Historically, there have been reported cases of the mite being resistant to several pesticides. In this thesis, four populations of Acarus siro were exposed to pesticides in different concentrations - first in the form of solutions and next as a diet additive. The populations showed divergent sensitivity to four selected pesticides (pirimiphos-methyl, chlorpyriphos-methyl, deltamethrin and deltamethrin in combination with piperonyl butoxide). The biggest differences were recorded in response to solutions of pirimiphos-methyl. This pesticide was then added to standard rearing diet in five concentrations. The mite populations were exposed to this died for 3 weeks. Control and pesticide-treated diet microbiome analyses revealed that 0.0125 µg×g-1 concentration causes hormoligosis in 6L and 6Tu strains. The same concentration was responsible for microbiome change in 6Z strain. Exposure to 1,25 µg×g-1 concentration caused microbial shifts in 6Z and...

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